Northwestern Welcomes New Faculty for 2021-22 Academic Year
August 18, 2021
Northwestern’s new faculty members who attended a recent faculty orientation session include (left to right, front row) Derek Trabuc, instructor of education; Denise Floyd, instructor of nursing; Codi Harding, assistant professor of social work and director of field experience; Summer Foster, instructor of education; Dr. Yvette Lowery (new faculty member 2020-2021) assistant professor of nursing; and Dr. Nicholus Ledbetter, assistant professor of biology. Second row, Jonathan Crowell, instructor of nursing.
Northwestern Oklahoma State University recently welcomed new faculty members to campus for a new faculty orientation to begin the 2021-2022 school year. New faculty members have been hired in the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Education and the School of Professional Studies.
Short biographies of each faculty member from the School of Arts and Sciences are listed below:
Dr. Michael Black, assistant professor of music and director of bands, holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Northeastern Oklahoma State University and a master’s degree in instrumental conducting from the University of Connecticut. He also earned a doctorate in musical arts with an emphasis in wind band conducting from the University of Kentucky. He has served as an assistant professor of music at Franklin College.
Dr. John Ellerbach, assistant professor of communication, has a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Dubuque in Iowa and a Doctor of Education degree in mass communication from Oklahoma State University. His prior work experience includes being an assistant professor of journalism at Franklin College of Indiana, assistant professor of journalism at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, assistant professor of communication at Shippensburg University, visiting assistant professor in communication at Purdue University and assistant professor of English at Kutztown University.
Codi Harding, assistant professor of social work and director of field education, holds a bachelor's degree in social work and a bachelor's degree in psychology, both from Northwestern. She also earned her master's degree in social work from the University of Oklahoma. Her previous work experience includes being a schoolbased therapist at Youth and Family Services in Enid.
Dr. Nicholus Ledbetter, assistant professor of biology, earned his bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Central Arkansas. He recently completed his Doctor of Philosophy degree in biology from the University of Tulsa. His prior work experience includes being a research and teaching assistant for biology at the University of Tulsa.
Short biographies of each faculty member from the School of Education are listed below:
Summer Foster, instructor of education, holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a bachelor's degree in speech-language pathology, both from Fort Hays State University. Foster also earned her master's degree in school counseling from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Her previous work experience includes being a high school counselor, sixth grade English language arts and social studies, and middle school counselor all with Dodge City Public Schools.
Derek Trabuc, instructor of education, earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a master's degree in educational leadership, both from Pittsburg State University. Trabuc's prior work experience includes 17 years as a fifth and sixth-grade classroom teacher at Marmaton Valley Elementary School in Kansas.
Short biographies of each faculty member from the School of Professional Studies are listed below:
Jonathan Crowell, instructor of nursing, holds a bachelor's degree in nursing from East Central University, a bachelor's degree in theology from Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver, a master's degree in Christian scripture from Heritage Christian University, and a master's degree in nursing from the University of Oklahoma. His previous work experience includes being a charge nurse in the emergency department at Holdenville General Hospital and at Nor Lea Hospital District in New Mexico, a staff nurse in the emergency department at Integris Bass Baptist Health Center in Enid, and an advanced practice nurse practitioner at Entero Services in Enid.
Denise Floyd, instructor of nursing, earned a bachelor's degree in nursing from Oklahoma Panhandle State University and a master's degree in nursing from Grand Canyon University in Arizona. Floyd's prior work experience includes being a critical care manager and ICU Nurse at St. Mary's Regional Medical Center in Enid.
Dr. Yvette Lowery, assistant professor of nursing, joined Northwestern faculty in the 2020-2021 academic year but was unable to attend the scheduled new faculty orientation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lowery attended the 2021-2022 new faculty orientation.
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CONTACT FOR RELEASE
Erin Davis, University Relations Specialist
(580) 327-8480, eedavis@nwosu.edu